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National Popular Vote Would Give Power to the People, Rejuvenate Democracy
Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:44:00
By State Sen. Joseph Griffo
Presidential elections should be a time when the entire nation is galvanized into action through a vibrant democracy because every citizen has a voice in setting the nation’s direction for the next four years.
Sadly, that is not the reality. By late October, 12 to 15 swing states are all that matters in presidential campaigns. Much of the nation is shunted into red or blue piles. We in New York know how it feels to be treated as if we were politically irrelevant: an entire state and its voters are ignored by one party and taken for granted by the other. That’s not the democracy I want to leave as my legacy to the future. I want to help create a vibrant new democracy that sparks activism instead of abetting apathy.
The National Popular Vote Bill can change that to ensure that the voice of the people is heard at every level of government. The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee that the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in all 50 states will win the presidency. Isn’t that what common sense tells us should happen in the first place?
Under the National Popular Vote Bill, instead of a winner-take-all setup that gives all of a state’s electoral votes to the candidate with the most votes in that state, all of a state’s electoral votes would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The legislation (in the form of an interstate compact) would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes—that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). It’s a movement gaining ground. Bills to create the National Popular Vote passed 11 legislative chambers last year.
The current system does not serve the people. According to research by National Popular Vote:
Presidential candidates concentrate over two-thirds of their advertising money and campaign visits in just five very close states, and over 99 percent of their advertising money in just 16 battleground states.
The spectator states in presidential elections include nine of the nation’s 13 most populous states (California, Texas, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia, Massachusetts and Virginia), 12 of the 13 least populous states (all but New Hampshire) and a majority of the other states.
It’s not only big states. Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Alaska regularly vote Republican, and Rhode Island, Delaware, Hawaii, Vermont, Maine and D.C. regularly vote Democratic. These 12 Sideline States together contain 11 million people and have 40 electoral votes. Ohio, with 11 million people and 20 electoral votes, is a battleground, but the 11 million people in the 12 non-competitive small states are utterly irrelevant.
Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. There is nothing more important in the American system of government than elections that attract voters that challenge those of us who run for office to deal with all the people and all the issues and that energize our system by attracting voters to participate in the process. The current system of electing a president effectively disenfranchises millions of Americans because they live in states where one candidate or the other has a safe majority. At a time when America needs its citizens to be involved in government and elections, we need to ensure that every vote counts and that the popular vote is the true measure of victory.
Joseph Griffo, a Republican representing parts of Lewis, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties, is the outgoing chair of the State Senate Elections Committee.
Presidential elections should be a time when the entire nation is galvanized into action through a vibrant democracy because every citizen has a voice in setting the nation’s direction for the next four years.
Sadly, that is not the reality. By late October, 12 to 15 swing states are all that matters in presidential campaigns. Much of the nation is shunted into red or blue piles. We in New York know how it feels to be treated as if we were politically irrelevant: an entire state and its voters are ignored by one party and taken for granted by the other. That’s not the democracy I want to leave as my legacy to the future. I want to help create a vibrant new democracy that sparks activism instead of abetting apathy.
The National Popular Vote Bill can change that to ensure that the voice of the people is heard at every level of government. The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee that the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in all 50 states will win the presidency. Isn’t that what common sense tells us should happen in the first place?
Under the National Popular Vote Bill, instead of a winner-take-all setup that gives all of a state’s electoral votes to the candidate with the most votes in that state, all of a state’s electoral votes would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The legislation (in the form of an interstate compact) would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes—that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). It’s a movement gaining ground. Bills to create the National Popular Vote passed 11 legislative chambers last year.
The current system does not serve the people. According to research by National Popular Vote:
Presidential candidates concentrate over two-thirds of their advertising money and campaign visits in just five very close states, and over 99 percent of their advertising money in just 16 battleground states.
The spectator states in presidential elections include nine of the nation’s 13 most populous states (California, Texas, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia, Massachusetts and Virginia), 12 of the 13 least populous states (all but New Hampshire) and a majority of the other states.
It’s not only big states. Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Alaska regularly vote Republican, and Rhode Island, Delaware, Hawaii, Vermont, Maine and D.C. regularly vote Democratic. These 12 Sideline States together contain 11 million people and have 40 electoral votes. Ohio, with 11 million people and 20 electoral votes, is a battleground, but the 11 million people in the 12 non-competitive small states are utterly irrelevant.
Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. There is nothing more important in the American system of government than elections that attract voters that challenge those of us who run for office to deal with all the people and all the issues and that energize our system by attracting voters to participate in the process. The current system of electing a president effectively disenfranchises millions of Americans because they live in states where one candidate or the other has a safe majority. At a time when America needs its citizens to be involved in government and elections, we need to ensure that every vote counts and that the popular vote is the true measure of victory.
Joseph Griffo, a Republican representing parts of Lewis, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties, is the outgoing chair of the State Senate Elections Committee.
